THE HAGUE - Venezuelan migrants in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom will no longer be called "illegal" by the Dutch government. That is what Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren writes in response to questions from the Dutch House of Representatives about the Annual Plan for the Caribbean Coast Guard.
The parliamentary faction of the Volt party has pointed out to the minister that according to international guidelines in the OHCHR's Recommended Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights at International Borders, the term “illegal” should be avoided in legislation, policy and practice. Members of the Volt faction ask whether the minister is willing to change that term in Coast Guard policy and practice
“The cabinet shares the view that the term illegal immigrants for Venezuelan migrants crossing the border of the Caribbean should be avoided. Extra attention will be paid to this in future documents from the Coast Guard," said Ollongren.